Mechanism of Herpes

Herpes is contracted through direct contact with an active lesion or body fluid of an infected person. Herpes transmission occurs between discordant partners; a person with a history of infection (HSV seropositive) can pass the virus to an HSV seronegative person. The only way to contract herpes simplex virus 2 is through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected individual.

To infect a new individual, HSV travels through tiny breaks in the skin or mucous membranes in the mouth or genital areas. Even microscopic abrasions on mucous membranes are sufficient to allow viral entry. Antibodies that develop following an initial infection with a type of HSV prevents reinfection with the same virus type -- a person with a history of orofacial infection caused by HSV-1 cannot contract herpes whitlow or a genital infection caused by HSV-1.

In a monogamous couple, a seronegative female runs a greater than 30% per year risk of contracting an HSV infection from a seropositive male partner. If an oral HSV-1 infection is contracted first, seroconversion will have occurred after 6 weeks to provide protective antibodies against a future genital HSV-1 infection.

HSV asymptomatic shedding occurs at some time in most individuals infected with herpes. It can occur more than a week before or after a symptomatic recurrence in 50% of cases. Infected people that show no visible symptoms may still shed and transmit virus through their skin; asymptomatic shedding may represent the most common form of HSV-2 transmission. Asymptomatic shedding is more frequent within the first 12 months of acquiring HSV.

Concurrent infection with HIV increases the frequency and duration of asymptomatic shedding. There are indications that some individuals may have much lower patterns of shedding, but evidence supporting this is not fully verified; no significant differences are seen in the frequency of asymptomatic shedding when comparing persons with 1 to 12 annual recurrences to those that have no recurrences.

Primary and secondary manifestations of infections sustained by herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) are among the most prevalent human maladies. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of HSV is a growing problem and represents a serious concern both in terms of clinical management and of viral ecology.

Resistance to all major herpes treatments, such as acyclovir, vidarabine and foscarnet, has been increasingly observed, especially amongst those immuno-compromised. Furthermore, DNA polymerase mutants induced by prolonged or repeated therapy with vidarabine or foscarnet are often resistant to combination therapy with existing compounds for a potentially stronger genital herpes treatment.

These observations underscore the critical importance of our unique treatment for herpes. They are new, highly effective alternative antiviral agents for herpes simplex treatment. The antiviral properties of medicinal plant extracts particularly for herpes treatment have received considerable attention from the National Academy of Sciences and medical professionals on a global scale.

Viruses exhibit rapid rates of mutation which can make immunity difficult to sustain, especially considering chemical drugs for herpes contain only a single antiviral agent. Once a cell is infected it is difficult to selectively inhibit the virus without harming the host cell. As a result, much interest has focused on plants as strong allies in restoring immune strength and inhibiting the spread of viral diseases.

Some of the most impressive results consistently achieved in medicinal plants are in the treatment of herpes. The antiviral activity of the OutbreakBalm-Rx brand of herpes treatments is well-documented, and principally due to its direct virucidal effects.

OutbreakBalm-Rx is composed of naturally occurring high intensity antiviral extracts which have a lethal effect against herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 upon exposure. This treatment provides maximum and rapid penetration of antiviral agents into cell membranes without damaging human cells.

As OutbreakBalm-Rx has a wide spectrum of action against HSV 1 and 2 and is non toxic, it represents a well tolerated powerful herpes remedy. The product is quickly absorbed into skin tissue without causing harmful side effects, making it ideal for treating herpes infections occurring in mucous membranes of the mouth, gums or genitals. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.